Five former executives of Surveying Solutions Inc. (SSI), a surveying company based in Standish, Michigan, have been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a scheme to defraud the United States Department of Transportation (USDOT) through the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT). The announcement was made by United States Attorney Jerome F. Gorgon Jr., alongside Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the Federal Bureau of Investigation – Michigan Division, and Anthony Licari, Special Agent in Charge of the United States Department of Transportation – Midwestern Region.
On November 18, 2025, U.S. District Court Judge Thomas L. Ludington sentenced Andrew Semenchuk and Jeffrey Bartlett, both 53, to 15 months in federal prison after they pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States. Each will also serve two years of supervised release after incarceration.
On November 20, 2025, Adam Ball and Brian Bartlett, both 48, were sentenced to one year and one day in federal prison on similar charges and will also be required to complete two years of supervised release. On the same day, Anthony Thelen, 48, received a six-month federal prison sentence and must serve one year of supervised release following his release.
The five men have been ordered to pay $4,571,800 in restitution to MDOT and forfeitures totaling $4,073,200.
Court records show that from February 2011 through July 2019, the defendants operated SSI while securing millions of dollars in highway construction contracts from MDOT—contracts primarily funded by USDOT grants. During this period, they executed an overbilling scheme that resulted in MDOT making significant overpayments to SSI. The fraudulent actions included submitting false employee and technology costs claims as well as inflated equipment lease expenses and concealing true ownership details related to SSI entities.
Jennifer Runyan commented on the outcome: “FBI Detroit will rigorously safeguard the integrity of government programs and hold accountable those who betray the public’s trust by exploiting the competitive contracting process for personal financial gain,” said Jennifer Runyan, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Detroit Field Office. “These kinds of manipulative schemes defraud not only government programs but Michiganders’ tax dollars as well and place honest, rule-abiding Michigan businesses at an unfair disadvantage. My team at the FBI Bay City Resident Agency, along with our federal law enforcement partners, conducted a meticulous and thorough investigation to uncover this complex financial crime and ultimately ensured justice was served. I am grateful for the partnership and successful prosecutorial work of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan in securing this sentencing.”
Anthony Licari added: “For nearly a decade, the defendants carried out a scheme that compromised the integrity of transportation projects in Michigan and betrayed the taxpayers who funded them,” said Anthony Licari, Special Agent-in-Charge of the U.S. Department of Transportation Office of Inspector General, Midwestern Region. “The sentences imposed send an unmistakable message that we will not waver in our commitment to working with our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners to expose corruption and ensure that those who break the law are brought to justice.”
The case was investigated by agents from both FBI Detroit Division and USDOT’s Office of Inspector General. Assistant United States Attorneys Karen L. Reynolds, William Vailliencourt, and K. Craig Welkener prosecuted.
